The Unbelievable Mystery Behind Supernatural's Infamous Demon-Killing Knife Unraveled

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Supernatural

Summary

In Supernatural season 4, Lilith may have pretended to fear the demon-killing knife in order to deceive Sam and Dean into believing they had an advantage. However, it was apparent that the knife, although capable of defeating low-level demons, proved ineffective against stronger demons such as Alistair and Lilith herself.

Being the first demon ever created, Lilith was probably invincible to the knife. However, it could have inflicted pain upon her, although she was careful not to reveal it in front of Sam and Dean. Throughout Supernatural's series, the Winchester brothers frequently utilized the demon-killing knife, but its use introduced a perplexing plot hole in season 4. Lilith, portrayed by various actresses as a child and later as a young woman, remains a memorable and formidable adversary to Sam and Dean.

Introduced in the third season of the supernatural series, Lilith proved to be a formidable adversary. In the fourth season, her presence posed a significant threat, and her demise was the crucial catalyst for the unleashing of Lucifer upon the world. The demon-killing knife possessed the ability to eradicate various types of demons when wielded correctly. While stabbing a more powerful demon might only cause irritation, striking them in the right spot would result in their permanent demise. Although Lilith, who held considerable strength as the first-ever created demon, was not directly affected by the demon-killing knife, she held a deep fear of the weapon that Dean and Sam carried. But what caused Lilith, with her extraordinary power, to tremble at the sight of a knife primarily designed to exterminate lesser demons?

Why Was Lilith Afraid Of Sam & Dean's Demon-Killing Knife?

Armed with the demon-killing knife, Sam and Dean found it to be a useful tool. It proved to be more efficient than an exorcism, ensuring the demise of all low-level demons. However, when faced with formidable demons like Alistair, the power of the demon-killing knife was rendered futile. Surprisingly, throughout Supernatural season 4, Lilith managed to avoid confronting the demon-killing knife, despite being more powerful than both Alistair and Crowley. Considering that even the immensely powerful Knights of Hell were partially immune to its effects, it can be concluded that the demon-killing knife never posed a significant threat to Lilith.

Lilith, the original demon, could have been easily eliminated with a knife. However, she possessed the ability to prevent anyone, including Sam, from using the knife against her by utilizing her powers. Despite this, she consistently avoided the knife whenever possible. It is conceivable that the demon blade could not kill Lilith but could still cause her discomfort, which was likely not her desired outcome. Displaying any signs of pain in the presence of Sam and Dean would have been detrimental to her plans, as revealing weaknesses in front of them would not have been advantageous.

Explaining Supernatural's Season 4 Lilith Plot Hole

Sam suspects that Lilith's fear of the knife stems from her association with other demons who are also afraid. However, the truth may lie in the fact that Lilith had been collaborating with the demon Ruby, despite pretending to be on Sam's side. Considering Lilith's manipulative nature, it is entirely plausible that she was merely putting on a facade once again.

Lilith likely understood that the demon-slaying knife couldn't truly end her life. Nevertheless, she feigned fear and allowed Dean and Sam to believe they held an advantage during the events of Supernatural season 4. Sam, driven by desperation to eliminate Lilith, was better off thinking he possessed the power to do so, even if only temporarily. This manipulation made sense considering it was Ruby who had introduced the knife as a means to defeat demons. Ruby certainly wouldn't have employed a weapon capable of killing Lilith, as Lilith's death at Sam's hands was crucial for releasing Lucifer.